602 HISTORICAL GEOLOGY. 



tion. It has brought to light no facts sustaining a theory that 

 derives species from others, either by a system of evolution, or by a 

 system of variations of living individuals, and bears strongly against 

 both hypotheses. There are no lineal series through creation cor- 

 responding to such methods of development. Instead of grada- 

 tions from Mollusks or Articulates to the lower Fishes, and so on 

 upward, the Fish-type commences near its summit-level, or rather 

 between the level of the typical fish and that of a higher class of 

 Vertebrates. Were either of these plans the system in nature, 

 examples of the blending of species would be common through all 

 the classes, high and low ; and North America would afford them 

 as successive stages between the old Elephant or Mastodon and 

 earlier species, and so throughout the various tribes of life, animal 

 and vegetable. But, in fact, appearances suggesting the idea of 

 such shadings among species are exceedingly rare, — wonderfully so, 

 considering that Paleontology has only the imperfect stony secre- 

 tions of animals to study out, which sometimes afford insufficient 

 distinctions even when perfect and from living species. Under 

 any scheme of development of species from species, the system of 

 life, after ages of progress, would have become a blended mass, 

 — the temple of nature fused over its surface and throughout its 

 structure. The study of the past has opened to view no such 

 result. 



Geology appears to bring us directly before the Creator ; and, 

 while opening to us the methods through which the forces of na- 

 ture have accomplished His purpose, — while proving that there has 

 been a plan glorious in its scheme and perfect in system, progress- 

 ing through unmeasured ages and looking ever towards Man and 

 a spiritual end, — it leads to no other solution of the great problem 

 of creation, whether of kinds of matter or of species of life, than 

 this : — 



Deus fecit. 



